Synchronous Sequential Circuits

A. Jawahar
SSN College of Engineering
Session Objectives

• To define Counter and Classify the types of counter

• To learn the operation of 4-Bit binary ripple counter,
operation, timing diagram
• BCD Ripple counter, operation, timing diagram
• Three decade counter
• To learn the operation of ring counter
 3

Session Outcomes

At the end of the session, students will be able to

•Define and classify counters
•Explain the working of a ripple counter with timing
diagram
•Derive the ring counter from the given counter

27/01/23
Counter: A register that goes through a prescribed sequence of
states
• Binary counter
 Counter that follows a binary sequence
 N bit binary counter counts in binary from n to 2n -1
• Ripple counters triggered by initial Count signal
• Applications:
 Watches
 Clocks
 Alarms
 Web browser refresh
Counters- Introduction
Counters are basically classified into two types based on
how the clock is applied.
(1) Asynchronous/Ripple Counters
(2) Synchronous Counters
Asynchronous/Ripple Counters:
• The flip-flop output transition serves as a source for
triggering other flip-flops.
• The CP inputs of all flip-flops (except the first) are triggered
not by the incoming pulses, but rather by the transition that
occurs in other flip-flops.
Synchronous Counters:
• Input pulses are applied to all the CP inputs of all flip-flops.
• Change of state of a particular flip-flop is dependent on the
present state of other flip-flops.
Binary Ripple Counter:
o
consists of a series connection of complementing
flip-flops (T or JK type), with output of each flip-
flop connected to CP input of next higher order
flip-flop.
o
reset signal sets all outputs to 0.
o
small circle in C input indicates that the flip-flop
complements during negative-going transition or
when the output to which it is connected goes
from 1 to 0.
o lower order bit A → complemented with each
0
count pulse.
o when A moves from 1 to 0 → complements A
0 1
o when A moves from 1 to 0 → complements A
1 2
o when A moves from 1 to 0 → complements A
2 3
and so on.
o
Flip-flops change one at a time in rapid
succession, and the signal propagates through
the counter in a ripple fashion.
 Logic-1
A0
J Q
Count pulses
K
 Binary counter with reverse count is
called binary down-counter.
A1
J Q  Here the value is decremented with
every input count pulse.
K  Figure using JK & T flip-flops
works as binary down-counter
A2 (1) if outputs are taken from
J Q
complement terminals Q’.
K (2) if all the flip-flops are
triggered on the positive edge of the
A3 pulse.
J Q

Fig. Binary Ripple Counter using JK flip-flop

Timing
1
diagram:
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

A0

A1

A2

A3

0000 0001 0010 0011 0100 0101 0110 0111 1000 1001 1010 1011 1100 1101 1110 1111 0000
(A3A2A1A0)
• Ring counter:
– a circular shift register with only one flip-flop being
set at any particular time, all others are cleared
(initial value = 1 0 0 … 0 )
– The single bit is shifted from one flip-flop to the next
to produce the sequence of timing signals.

• A 4-bit ring counter A3 A2 A1 A0

1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1
1 0 0 0
• Application of counters
– Counters may be used to generate timing signals to control
the sequence of operations in a digital system.
• Approaches for generation of 2n timing signals
1. a shift register with 2n flip-flops
2. an n-bit binary counter together with an n-to-2n-line decoder
Johnson counter:
• Ring counter vs. Switch-tail ring counter
– Ring counter
• a k-bit ring counter circulates a single bit among the
flip-flops to provide k distinguishable states.
– Switch-tail ring counter
• is a circular shift register with the complement output
of the last flip-flop connected to the input of the first
flip-flop
• a k-bit switch-tail ring counter will go through a
sequence of 2k distinguishable states. (initial value =
0 0 … 0)
An example: Switch-tail ring counter
• Johnson counter
– a k-bit switch-tail ring counter + 2k decoding gates
– provide outputs for 2k timing signals
• E.g.: 4-bit Johnson counter

– The decoding follows a regular pattern:

• 2 inputs per decoding gate
Summary

• Counter definition
• Types of counter
• 4-Bit binary ripple counter, operation, timing diagram
• BCD Ripple counter, operation, timing diagram
• Three decade counter
• Ring counter
Practice Questions

1. Differentiate between 4-bit ripple counter and ring counter.

2. How modulo counter is different from ring counter?
3. How many states 4-bit ring counter has? What modifications
have to be done to count from 0000 to 1111?